Amanda Walker was not among the leading scorers for Hampshire’s girls basketball team in Tuesday’s game, but she had a major role in lifting the Whip-Purs to victory.
The 5-foot-9-inch junior came up with her only baskets of the game in the fourth quarter to lift Hampshire over Stillman Valley 50-43 in a Class A sectional semifinal at Genoa-Kingston.
Jackie Heine, who led Hampshire (26-3) with 16 points, hit a free throw with 5 minutes 18 seconds left for a 39-38 lead–not a safe one, considering that Stillman Valley had been raining threes all night on the Whip-Purs.
But Hampshire got the ball back and Walker went to work.
“In the fourth quarter they were collapsing on Jackie and Nicole [Watzlawick],” said Walker, who had five points. “Then we were able to drive in and take the shots.”
She scored her first points, a 5-footer in the lane, with 4:33 left with an assist from Heine. Thirty seconds later she broke the hearts of Cardinals fans with a steal and driving layup for a 43-38 lead.
Stillman Valley (24-4), which had beaten Hampshire in a Big Northern crossover Feb. 10, never drew closer than four after that.
“She’s a big-time player,” said first-year Hampshire coach Sue Ellett, whose Whip-Purs will face unbeaten North Boone in Thursday’s sectional final. “In a game we win by 40 or 50, she may not score at all. But in big games, Amanda Walker is there.”
Hampshire’s Jessica Goebbert added 11 points and foul-plagued Watzlawick managed 10 points with 10 rebounds. Brianna VanBriesen led Stillman Valley with 14 points and Lindsey Rader added 13, each making four three-pointers.
